George Stevens
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - October 31, 1947
Hunter Killed At Edwards Sunday
CORONER'S JURY FINDS SHOT FIRED BL L. PONIKVAR
The second hunting fatality in three days in Eagle County occured near Edwards early Sunday morning, when George Stevens of Leadville was shot through the neck. Stevens was hunting with his brothers, Bill and Joe, when the bullet, fired from bushes, hit him. The shooting happened shortly after daybreak in Berry Gulch, near the Koprivinikar ranch at Edwards. Investigation made by Sheriff Murray Wilson and Patrolman Jim Seabry later in the morning and during the afternoon revealed that another party of hunters from Leadville were hunting at the top of Berry Gulch at the same time, and had sent one of the men, Ludwig Ponikvar down into the gulch to scare out game. Reports here were that Ponikvar is believed to have fired the fatal shot, mistaking the three brothers for game. Coroner Paul Andre called for an inquest to be held in Eagle Wednesday morning, when a sixman jury found that a shot was fired from a 25-35 rifle, presumably in the hands of Ponikvar, look the life of Stephens. The verdict stated that death was due to carelessness rather than to maliciousness.
